Balanced door construction



Jan. 14, 1941. V, HOLMES 2,228,314

BALANCED DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April l5, 1958 Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a balanced door construction, and while the invention may be used in different situations, it is intended particularly for use as a garage door.

'I'he invention relates particularly to a type of door in which the door is normally held in a vertical plane, but is provided on its inner side with` supporting arms that are pivotally supported on supports or walls at each' side of the doorway, the weight of the door being counterbalanced so that by exerting a slight effort, the door can be swung upwardly from its vertical position into a substantially horizontal position at about the level of the lintel of the doorway.

It is found in practice in installing the supporting mechanism for such a door, that there is considerable variation in the location of the wall support with respect to the jamb or side of the doorway. The supporting mechanism for hanging the door, involves the use of an arm adjacent" each vertical edge of the door, the inner end of which must be supported on the wall of the garage. In installing this type of door in the usual Way, it is necessary to bend these supporting arms so that they incline more or less toward the garage wall in order to adapt them to the particular location of the garage wall with respect to the location of the adjacent door jamb. In other words, the construction must be fitted on the job. If the arms are not bent to the proper angle, then it is necessary to build out the side wall of the garagewith wall blocks to provide a face for attaching the pivots of the arms approximately ilush. with the face of the side jamb of the door opening, using straight supporting arms lying in a vertical plane in which case the necessary construction would impair the side-clearance in the garage in such a way as to interfere with lopening of the automobile doors when the car is in the garage.

One of the objects of this invention is to overcome these difiiculties, and to provide a construction for the supporting means for the door, which will enable the same to be readily installed in different situations to meet the special requirements of the particular situation; in other words, to provide a construction which will enable the supporting mechanism to be installed in a situation where theside wall of the garage is at a considerable distance `from the side of the doorway, or where this distance is inconsiderable.

In door constructions of this type, it is usual to employ a counterbalancing spring, or springs, connected with the door-supporting mechanism. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple anchorage for such a balancing spring, or springs; also to provide an anchorage lor the spring, which will enable it to be readily adjusted to regulate the degree of the balancing effect of the spring, or springs, on the door; in other 5 words, to increase the leverage or purchase of the spring, or to reduce such leverage. i

Further objects of the invention will appea hereinafter. .l

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an eicient balanced door construction.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following speciiication, while the broad scope ofthe invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the garage and garage door, with parts of the garage broken away, and illustrating an embodiment of my invention to enable thev door to be swung open at will. l

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken about on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 at one side of the doorway, and showing a portion of the garage wall and door in section, the door-supporting mechanism being shown in plan.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section upon an enlarged scale, taken upon the line 3-3of Fig. 1, and particularly illustrating the means for mountingk the door-supporting arms on the side walls` of the garage.

Fig. 4, is a section in the general vertical plane passing through a portion of the lower fork of one of the bifurcated door-supporting arms illustrated in Fig. 1, and particularly illustrating the means for attaching the ends of the Aarms to the inside of the door. This view is, of course, upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portionof one of the side forks broken away and illustrating the preferred embodiment of an anchor-clevis to which the forward end of the counterbalancing spring is attached, that counterbalances the weight of the door.

Fig. 6 is a detail `view similar to Fig. 5, but upon a somewhat reduced scale, and illustrating an alternatek anchor means for lthe counterbalancing spring or springs, that I may employ 50 in counterbalancing the weight of the door.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description ofthe invention. it should be stated that in applying the improvement in a single garage, `the arms that support the door would be supported on the side walls. In a double garage, or in a multiple garage, supports would be provided attached to the floor, or suspended from above.

In practicing the invention, I provide a support at each side of the doorway, and where the wall l of the garage is near the doorway, I support the door-hanging mechanism directly onto this wall. In the present instance. and as illustrated in Figs.

k1 and 2, I provide a wall plate or board I that is secured to the side wall I of the garage, preferably being attached to two adjacent studs 3. In a single garage the construction on the opposite side would be the same as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. Each wail plate or board 2, would pivotally support an arm 4 for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis. In the present instance, I provide a hub l for this purpose, attached to a stub shaft I (see Fig. 3) that is rotatably mounted in a bearing I set inthe wall plate or board. This hub l preferably comprises two oppositely disposed sockets 8 of sleeve form, to facilitate securing the arm 4 to the same. The arm 4 consists preferably of two forks, including an upper fork 4a and a lower fork 4b, and Vthese forks are preferably made extensible: and in the present construction. include sleeves la and lb that telescope over the ends of the forks adjacent the door III.v These extensions 9a and'b can swivel on the forks 4a and 4b, and are preferably provided with means such asset screws Il for securing them rigidly in any position desired. 'I'he rear face of the door is provided with two wall plates I2 and I3. Each of said wall plates includes a foot I4 to be secured to the door by suitable bolts, and each door plate has an extension Il that preferably projects at an obtuse angle to the plane o'f its foot, so that it projects substantially in line with the axis oi.' the fork extension to which it is to be attached. The connection` between each extension Il and its corresponding fork extension 9a or 9b, is adjustable so as to enable this door hanger to be adapted to diiferent relative 'positions of the wall I .with respect to the doorjamb I4 (see Fig. 2). This connection preferably includes a pivot boit' I l that` secures the lextensions Il tov an integral fin. it, which is formed on the adjacentend of the correspending fork extension .apr Ib. In addition to this. means is provided for clamping these parts together in any'adjusted position. For this purpose I prefer to provide each extension IB with an arcuate slot I9 in which a clamping bolt 2l is provided. This construction is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4.

V'I'he'forks 4a and 4b have' integral shanks 2| formed on them, which are received in the sockets l, and these shanks are adjustable rotatably in the sockets to enable the position of the forks to vbe adapted to any special requirements or-door constructions.` The shanlrs may beclamped in any desired adjusted position by set screws 22 (seeFig.1). j

At each side edge Ilfof the door Il, a slight clearance is provided between it and the inner face of the door jamb i8. This arrangement enables the door to be swung upwardly and outwardly at its lower end, and inwardly at its upper end, rotatingabout thestub shafts l. This will enable the door to be swung up into a substantially horizontal plane as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In order to counterbalance the weight of the door to facilitate this opening movement of the door, I provide resilient means preferably associated with one or'both of the supporting arms 4. In the present instance, I provide a long coil spring 24 (see Fig. 1) and this spring preferably extends upwardly in an inclined direction so that its upper end may be anchored to a xed support 25 either attached to the side wall, or secured to a hanger from above. The lower end of this spring is preferably secured to the upper 5 fork 4a so that the point of attachment can be adjusted in or out with respect to the axis of the stub shaft 4. In order to accomplish this, I prefer to employ an adjustable anchorage of my invention, which is illustrated in detail-in Fig. 5. This anchorage includes a split sleeve 28 preferably made from a bent plate'cut away to form a wide slot 21 between two collars 28a and 26h, and formed with ears such as the ear llc. Clamping bolts 28d enable this sleeve to be clamped on the 15 fork 4a in any desired adjusted position. A loose split collar 21a loose in the slot 21, has perforated ears 2lb to receive a Din or bolt 21e to which links at the lower end of the spring attach. By loosening up the bolts 26d this anchorage can be slid 20 .further out or further in to vary the virtual arm or purchase of the spring in exerting its counterbalancing effect on the door.v In other words, where the door is unusually heavy, the anchorage would be slid further forward toward the door. 25 The loose collar 21a can swivel on the fork to bring the ears 21h into line with the spring. Instead of using the anchor means illustrated in Fig. 5.

I may use a construction such as illustrated in Fig. 6, employing a plate $2` of substantially 3 triangular form clamped between long ears 3l on a split collar 34 by bolts 3l, and having an edge 3l lying against the side of the arm 4a, and this edge is formed with a notch 31 to receive the end of the anchoring link at the lower end of the 35 spring. n

. The fact that the extensions 8a and abbi the forks 4a and 4b can swivel on the axis of the forks,

is most advantageous in facilitating the attachment of the door plates to the face of the door, 40 in their proper position.

It is understood that the embodiment of the in-` vention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention maytake, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

l. In a balanced door construction, the comv bination of a base plate to be attached to a sup- 50 port at each side of the doorway, a hub mounted to rotate on each base plate on a substantially horizontal axis, a door-supporting arm secured to each hub and capable of adjustment on the same about a substantially vertical axis when the door is in its closed position, said door-supporting varms each having an upper fork and a lower fork extending toward the door. a door plate corresponding to each of the forks v,to be attached to the door, means for pivotally connecting and securing the door plates to the endsof the forks, and resilient means Vconnected with. said parts for counterbalancing the'weight of the door, said parts cooperating to enable the door to be swung from a vertical position in the doorway into a substantially horizontal vposition above the doorway. L

2. In a balanced door construction, the combination of a base plate to be attached to a support at each side ot the doorway, a hub mounted 7o to rotate on each base plate on a substantially horizontal axis, a door-supporting armv secured to each hub and capable of adjustment on the same about a substantially vertical axis' when the door is in its closed position, said door supporting 75 assegna arms each having an upper fork and a lower fork extending toward the door. each of said forks comprising two coaxial extensible sections capable of swiveling on their longitudinal axes, a door plate corresponding to each of the forks to be attached to the door. means for pivotally connecting and securing the door plates to the ends of the forks, and resilient means connected with said parts for counterbaiancing the weight of the door, said parts cooperating to enable the door to be swung from a vertical position in the doorway into a substantially horizontal position above the doorway. Y

3. In a balanced door construction. the combination of a base plate to be attached to a support at each side of the doorway, a hub mounted to rotate on each base plate on a substantially horizontal axis, a door-supporting arm secured to each hub and capable of adjustment about the Vsame on a substantially vertical axis when the door is in its closed podtion. said door supporting arms each having an upper fork and a lower fork extending toward the door, a door plate correspending to each of the forks to be attached to the door, each door plate having a foot for attachment to the face of the door, and having an extension projecting from the foot forming an angle with the plane of the foot. means for pivotally connecting the ends of the forks to the said extensions to permit the arms to be adjusted in a general lateral horizontal direction with respect to the doorway, and resilient means connected with said arms for counterbalancing the weight of the door, said parts cooperating to enable the door to be swung from its normal vertical position in the doorway into a substantially horizontal position above the doorway.

V4. In a balanced door construction. the combination of a base plate to be attached to a support at each side of the doorway. a hub mounted to rotate on each base plate on a substantially horizontal axiaa door-supporting arm secured to each hub and capable of adjustment about the same on a substantially'vertical axis when the door is in its closed position, said door supporting arms each having an upper fork and a lower fork extending toward the door, a door plate corresponding to each of the forks to be attached to the door, each door plate having a foot for attachment to the face of the door, and having an extension projecting from the foot forming an angle with the plane of the foot, means for `pivotally connecting the ends ofthe forks to the said extensions to permit the arms to be adjusted in a general lateral or horizontal direction with respect to the doorway. means for clamping the ends of the forks in diiferent adjusted positions to the extensions of the door plates. and resilient means connected with said arms for counterbalancing the weight of the door, said parts cooperating to enable the door to be swung from its normal vertical position in the doorway into a substantially horizontal position above the doorway.

5. In a balanced door construction for a garage door, the combination of a wall plate, and means for attaching the same to the side wall of the` garage behind the doorway, a hub mounted to rotate on the wall plate on a substantially horizontal axis. 'a door-supporting arm rotatably mounted in the hub to rotate about a substantially vertical axis when the door is in its closed position. and capable of rotary movement for adjustment on said vertical axis, said arm having an upper fork extending toward the doorway and inclinlng upwardly toward the same, and including a lower fork extending toward the doorway ing lto each fork having'a foot with means for securing the same to the face of the door, and having an extension forming an angle with the plane of the foot, means for pivotally connecting the forward end of each fork to its corresponding extension of the door plate, with means for clamping the arm in different adjusted positions, to said extensions.

6. In a balanced door construction, the combination of a pair of hubs constructed to be supported for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis at each side of the door frame respectively, a door-supporting arm pivotally mounted on each hub for angular adjustment in a general horizontal plane toward or from the adjacent side of the door frame, each arm including two extensible forks capable of adjustment toward the doorway to align the ends of the forks with the back of the door when in its vertical closed position in the doorway, and means carried by the ends of said forks for securing the same to the inner face' of the door.

7. In a balanced door construction, the combination of a pair of hubs, a support for each hub at each side of the door frame, an arm mounted on each hub for angular adjusting movement in a general horizontal direction to enable its outer end to be placed against the face of the door when it is in a substantially vertical plane, each of said arms having means at its outer end for attaching the same to the inner face of the door; and means for counterbalancing the weight of the door.

8. In a balanced door construction, the combination of a pair of hubs, a support for each hub at each side, an arm comprising two forks extending from each hub, with means lfor supporting each arm at the hub for angular adjusting movement to enable the outer end of the arm to be placed against the ,face of the door when the door is in a substantially vertical plane, means on the outer ends of the forks for attaching the same to the inner face of the door, anchorage means adjustably mounted on one of said arms, and resilient means connected with said anchorage means for counterbalancing the weight of the door when swung from its normal vertical position in the doorway into a substantially horizontal position above the doorway.

9. In a balanced door construction, the combination of a, pair of hubs, a support for each hub at each side, an arm comprising two forks extending from each hub, with means for supporting each arm at the hub for angular adjusting movement to enable the outer end of the arm to be placed against the face of the door when the door is in a substantially vertical plane, means on the outer ends of the forks for attaching the same to the inner face of the door, resilient means for counterbalancing the weight of the door when swung from its normal vertical position in the doorway into a substantially horizontal position above the doorway, with anchorage means for securing the resilient means to at least one of the said forks of the arm.

l0. In a garage door construction, a doorway, a rigid door having a vertical closed position in said doorway and an overhead open position inside the building, means forming in effect a pair of arms spaced apart and extending inwardly from the back of the door, means to pivot said arms on the door, so that in effect the arms are adjustable toward or away from each other about their pivots on the door, in the installation of the door, and devices to pivotally support the t ends of the arms on the building, so that the door may swing upward into said overhead open position, together with counterbalancing means to assist in opening the door, and to cushion the closing thereof.

arm on the door.

VERNE L. HOLMES. 

